GLASFORD — Illini Bluffs ended last season in pretty shocking fashion.
The perennial small-school softball power was shutout in a regional title game, losing to a Delavan team the Tigers had run-ruled earlier in the season. That defeat ended IB’s five-year run of Class 1A state title game appearances.
“It was really weird,” IB senior Sara Finn said of the 1-0 loss, “and I’d prefer not to experience that again actually.”
Illini Bluffs exacted a bit of revenge on Monday, April 13 with a 17-1, four-inning victory over Delavan. Finn went 3-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs as Anabelle Reimer and McKenzie Nutter went yard too.
As a Creighton commit, Finn has moved from the outfield to her natural position at catcher.
“She’s doing great,” IB coach Lindsey Lox said. “She’s being a great leader. You can tell she’s super comfortable in that position. It’s been fun to see her in that position as well. It’s been a great adjustment for us.”
Staff ace Cora Ellison seems to be enjoying Finn’s presence behind the plate as well. Ellison had 38 strikeouts and only three walks with a 1.04 ERA in 33.2 innings through Thursday.
Plus, Finn has taken the reigns of calling pitches.
“It’s like a mind game with the batters,” Finn said. “You’re trying to figure out what they think you’re going to call, what they can hit well, what their swing allows them to hit well.
“… It kind of just feels like a game of chess. If they do something, I’ve got to make my move against them.”
“We have a tremendous amount of trust in her,” Lox added. “I think the girls learn more when they’re calling (the pitches). Even though she’s still calling it, we still have conversations every inning.”
The Tigers were 6-3 as of April 16 and ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 1A Illinois Coaches Association poll. Their offense has been rolling, outscoring opponents, 60-16 and having scored 10 runs or more five times this season.
This doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone associated with Illini Bluffs.
“There’s a target on our back, so I think we always know that we’re the team to beat ultimately,” senior Chloe Eeten said. “After last year’s loss, I think we just want it that much more this year, so I think we’re working that much harder to get back to where we should be.”
Eeten has been a staple in the IB lineup since her freshman season. She has two state championship game starts at third base and shortstop. But more than anything, the Parkland College volleyball commit is relishing the time as an upperclassman, guiding her teammates like former IB all-staters Annabelle Fortin and Lexi Brinkman did in the past.
“Just taking on that leadership role is huge for me this year,” Eeten said. “With all these underclassman looking up to me, I try to set a good example on and off the field. … I hope I set that example for younger generations that are coming up too.”
Specific goals aren’t exactly being discussed, but the expectations remain on par with what Illini Bluffs has accomplished over the last seven years. IB has two state titles (2021, 2022) and three runner-up finishes (2019, 2023, 2024) in that span.
And getting better every day remains the sole, daily focus.
“Our coaches just expect the best out of us,” Finn said, “and if that takes us to state, it takes us to state, but they just want us to do our best.”
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illini Bluffs softball seeks redemption after last year’s shocking loss
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
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